Hair curlers

ABSTRACT

A heatable hair curler for use in vapor type heating systems which condense liquid droplets on the hair curler by directing the liquid droplets toward an end of the hair curler, the hair curler having a hollow cylindrical body terminating at a closed end and a heat storage cartridge disposed within the cylindrical body. The closed end of the hair curler receives the liquid droplets and has an outer surface with a bulging or protruding configuration, such as that of a dome or cone, and guide channels formed in the surface to direct liquid droplets to the peripheral edge of the closed end and distribute the liquid over the cylindrical body of the hair curler, the guide channels being defined by ribs extending from the surface and/or grooves in the surface.

United States Patent 1 Keldmann HAIR CURLERS [75] inventor: Erik Keldmann, Jerslevsj, Denmark [73] Assignee: Bristol-Myers C0mpany,New

York, N .Y.

[ 22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1971 21 Appl, No.: 172,542

[30] Foreign Application'Priority Data Aug. 17, 1970 Denmark 4211/70 7 [52] US. Cl 132/3311 [51] Int. Cl A4511 2/12 [58] Field of Search 132/33 R, 39, 40,

132/42 R, 33 R, 33 F 1S6} L j '7 References Cited y UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,396,782 3/1946 Grant t 132/42 R 2,415,586 2/1947 Grant 132/42 R 3,257,541 .6/1966 Jorgensen 219/222 12/1956 Swenson et al. 132/40 3,739,788 1 June 19, 1973 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Exuminer-.Gregory E. McNeill Attorney-William F. Moss, 111, David J. Mugford and George A. Mentis et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A heatable hair curler for. use in vapor type heating systems which condense liquid droplets on the hair curler by directing the liquid droplets toward an end of the hair curler, the hair curler having a hollow cylindrical body terminating at a closed end and a heat storage cartridge disposed within the cylindrical body, The closed end of the hair curler receives the liquid droplets and has an outer surfacewith a bulging or protruding configuration, such as that of a dome or cone, and guide channels formed in the surface to direct liquid droplets to the peripheral edge of the closed end and distribute the liquid over the cylindrical body of the hair curler, the guide channels beingdefined by ribs extending from the surface and/or grooves in the surface.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented June 19, 1973 AQM 3.

BACKGROUND In recent years devices for heating plastic hair curlers have become widely used. ln general, these devices provide posts upon which are mounted the hair curlers in a heat transfer relation thereby transmitting heat from the post to the interior of the curler.

In conjunction with such-devices there is sometimes used a vapor generating means which provides a layer of condensed liquid on the heated curler to enhance its curling properties. In this type of device, the heating system and curlers are enclosed in a casing into which is introduced a vaporized conditioning fluid. The temperature of the casing is such that this vapor condenses into droplets which are directed to the curlers. Since the curlers are generally oriented with their longitudinal axis vertical, it is necessary that the droplets are directed to one end portion of the curler body. It, therefore, becomes necessary to provide an end portion which is shaped to optimize distribution of the condensed fluid over thecurler body without requiring precise direction of the condensed droplets. It is to this problem that this invention provides a solution.

In order to maximize distribution of the condensed fluid over the curler body, this invention makes several improvements in the end portion of the curler body. -First,'itis necessary that the end portion of the curler have a bulging or protruding configuration to provide. a generally downward path in which the condensedfluid may flow from a central portion to the peripheral edge. It has been, found however that, because of uneven application of the droplets, it is desirable to form guide channels on the bulged end portion to direct the fluid from the central portion in even distribution to the peripheral edge.

Thus, according to the invention a number of ribs may extend from the outer surface of the bulged end section down to its lower edge which is located at the cylinder surface. The ribs will, even though they are quite low, direct the-liquid along their sides down towards the transition to'the cylindrical surface of the curler body. 7

' According to the invention, a number of grooves may also be provided, extending from the top of the end section down towards its lower edge which is located in the cylinder surface. The grooves as well as the aforesaid ribs may be molded integral with the material or be formed by machining the same.

To ensure an efficient transfer of the liquid from the end section to the cylindrical surface, the bottoms of the grooves may according to the invention join the cylinder surface through continuous curved transition surfaces.

Ribs or grooves need not emanate from a central pointof the end section, but may according to the invention emanate from a substantially flat central surface of theend section. Even though the liquid falls at a non-central point of the said surface, it will be uniformly distributed over the surface, from which the liquid will then be drawn toiall sides down over the bulged end surfaces of the end section by the grooves or the spaces between the ribs.

Due to the contour of the outer surface to provide guide channels for the liquid the slope of the bulged or domed end portions is-immaterial. If a small slope is chosen, it will be easier to obtain a good eentering I of t he drops. If, on the other hanma great degree of slope is chosen, this will afford a better possibility for the ribs or grooves to draw the liquid to sections near the upper edge of the cylinder that would otherwise be underfed.

According to the. invention, the slope of the outer surface may, however, also be made to vary continuouslyabove the height such as a dome or a steeplewith a convex or concave curvature.The domed form will in v many cases afford an efficient combination of the adnear the middle and the greater slope at the periphery.

In cases of comparatively large absorption between liquid and casing, a steeple will be advantageous because'it does not absorb very-much of the kinetic energy of the falling drop, but the said energy will be utilized to accelerate the movement of the liquid down overthe domed surface portions so that the liquid will more easily reach the periphery.

The bulged end section needs not have a basic form corresponding to that of a body of revolution. It may very well be of oval or polygonal cross-section, and dependent upon the manner selected for its manufacture, whether, for example, molding or work ing, or whether it is made separately or integral with the upper part of the casing, the basic form that may be selected according to the invention may be conical or frustoconical.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a heatable hair curler with a closed end having an outer surface with a bulging configuration, the outer surface being contoured to define guide channels which direct liquid from a. central portion of the closed end in even distribution v edge of the closed end, an'dthe outer surface may be convoluted or otherwise configured to define I the ribs and grooves.

Thepresent invention is generally characterized in a heatable hair curler for receiving liquid droplets from a position abovethe hair curler, the hair curler including a hollow cylindrical body terminating at a closed end and a heat storage cartridge disposed within the cylindrical body, the closed end of the hair curler having an outer surface with a bulgingconfiguration, the outer surface having a central portion and a peripheral edge and including a plurality of guide channels for directing liquid from the central portion to the peripheral edge whereby liquid droplets received at the closed end cylindrical body.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing, in which;

FIG. 1 is a side view of the curler;

PK]. 2 is a top perspective view;

FIG. 3 is a top view; and

F IG. 4 is a bottom perspective view.

The heatable hair curler includes a hollow cylinare distributed over the drical body 1 of plastic. The cylindrical surface of the body is provided with spikes 2 and is defined above by a closed end section 3 which has an outer surface 8 with an outwardly bulging or protruding configuration. The bulged end portion 3 is provided with a number of radial ribs 4 extending from surface 8. Inside the body I is attached a cylindrical metal cartridge 5 containing a heat storing substance and having an opening 6 to accommodate standard heating posts.

The curler is heated by placing it on a vertical heating post contained in a standard type heating system. This system is basically comprised of a group of heat conductive posts which are heated by an electrical heating element. In the vapor type system these posts are enclosed in a casing by a removable cover. Into this enclosed system is injected a conditioning vapor. This can be accomplished simply by providing a liquid reservoir in heat conducting relation with the above-described heating system so that the liquid evaporates into the casing. The vapor thus formed condenses in droplets on the inside of the casing which may be directed to the bulged end of the curlers by a variety of means.

The ribs 4 define guide channels to ensure that a falling droplet will be distributed as liquid to all sectors of the cylindrical portion of the hairwinder so that no portion of the. surface will be without curling liquid.

The preferred embodiment of the subject haircurler has ribs 4 alternating with grooves 7 in the surface 8 extending radially downoverthe bulged end section 3. By altering the cross-sections of ribs and grooves or even dispensing wholly with some of these, it is possible to obtain a variety of configurations which will accomplish the purpose of this invention.

In operation the curlers are placed within a casing on appropriate heating posts, and the heating system is energized. Simultaneously, a hair conditioning vapor is introduced into the casing. The vapor will condense on the casing and form droplets which may be directed to the end portions of the curlers. As the droplets engage the ribs 4 of this invention, they are By adding grooves 7 between the ribs 4, the guide channel distribution is further enhanced. This in vention, therefore. provides a curler which can be easily coated with a film of conditioning fluid to protect the hair and to enhance its curling characteristics.

I claim:

1. A heatable hair curler for receiving liquid droplets from a position above said hair curler, said hair curler comprising a hollow cylindrical body terminating at a closed end and heat storage means disposed within said cylindrical body, said closed end of said hair curler having an outer surface with a bulging configuration, said outer surface having a central portion and a peripheral edge and including a plurality of guide channels for directing liquid from said central portion to said peripheral edge whereby liquid droplets received at said closed end are distributed over said cylindrical body.

2. A hair curler as recited in claim 1 wherein said closed end has a plurality of ribs extending from said outer surface defining said guide channels.

3. A hair curler as recited in claim 2 wherein said ribs extend radially from said central portion of said closed end to said peripheral edge.

4. A hair curler as recited in claim 2 wherein said closed end includes a plurality of grooves formed in said outer surface to further define said guide channels.

5. A hair curler as recited in claim 4 wherein said ribs extend radially from said central portion of said closed end and are equiangularly spaced and one of said grooves is disposed centrally between each pair of adjacent ribs.

6. A hair curler as recited in claim 1 wherein said closed end has a plurality of grooves in said outer surface defining said guide channels.

7. A hair curler as recited in claim 6 wherein said grooves extend radially from said central portion of said closed end to said peripheral edge.

8. A hair curler as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said closed end has a configuration ofa body of revolution.

9. A hair curler as recited in claim 1 wherein said dispersed, and their even distribution to the cylindrical cylindrical body and said closed end are integrally body of the curler is facilitated by the guide channels.

formed of plastic material. 

1. A heatable hair curler for receiving liquid droplets from a position above said hair curler, said hair curler comprising a hollow cylindrical body terminating at a closed end and heat storage means disposed within said cylindrical body, said closed end of said hair curler having an outer surface with a bulging configuration, said outer surface having a central portion and a peripheral edge and including a plurality loped of guide channels for directing liquid from said central portion to said peripheral edge whereby liquid droplets received at said closed end are distributed over said cylindrical body.
 2. A hair curler as recited in claim 1 wherein said closed end has a plurality of ribs extending from said outer surface defining said guide channels.
 3. A hair curler as recited in claim 2 wherein said ribs extend radially from said cental portion of said closed end to said peripheral edge.
 4. A hair curler as recited in claim 2 wherein said closed end includes a plurality of grooves formed in said outer surface to further define said guide channels.
 5. A hair curler as recited in claim 4 wherein said ribs extend radially from said central portion of said closed end and are equiangularly spaced and one of said grooves is disposed centrally between each pair of adjacent ribs.
 6. A hair curler as recited in claim 1 wherein said closed end has a plurality of grooves in said outer surface defining said guide channels.
 7. A hair curler as recited in claim 6 wherein said grooves extend radially from said central portion of said closed end to said peripheral edge.
 8. A hair cUrler as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said closed end has a configuration of a body of revolution.
 9. A hair curler as recited in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical body and said closed end are integrally formed of plastic material. 